Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) takes place on November 20th, preceded by Transgender Awareness Week (November 13th-19th) each year. These important holidays highlight what it means to be transgender and recognize the ongoing violence and discrimination that these communities face on a daily basis.
According to LGBTQIA+ non-profit advocacy organization GLAAD, transgender is defined as "people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth...It is important to note that being transgender is not dependent upon physical appearance or medical procedures. A person can call themself transgender the moment they realize that their gender identity is different than the sex they were assigned at birth".
Raising awareness about transgender people can help children feel more compassion for themselves and others, especially in younger years, as they are beginning to discover who they are. It's so vital that children's books represent all types and abilities of children, especially those who belong to marginalized groups. Read on to discover some transgender authors who have shared their experiences through the creation of some of the most incredible picture books!
This picture book tells the story of young Peyton as she navigates her discomfort with wearing a dress to perform in the dances at the Pow Wow. Her Auntie Eyota asks her why she doesn't want to participate in the dancing she usually enjoys, and Peyton opens up to her about her true feelings. Auntie Eyota immediately seems to understand, and the whole family gets to work on a special, customized alternative to her traditional Jingle Dress! She first consults L, a Two-Spirit member of the community, who is excited to hear about Peyton. Indian Health Service (IHS) describes Two-Spirit people as the following:
Traditionally, Native American Two-Spirit people were male, female, and sometimes intersexed individuals who combined activities of both men and women with traits unique to their status as Two-Spirit people. In most tribes, they were considered neither men nor women; they occupied a distinct, alternative gender status. In tribes where Two-Spirit males and females were referred to with the same term, this status amounted to a third gender. In other cases, Two-Spirit females were referred to with a distinct term and, therefore, constituted a fourth gender.
Finally, Auntie Eyota bestows her with the handmade gifts. Peyton is thrilled to wear the beautifully adorned gifts crafted by her friends and family, and at the end, she proudly performs in them. I was really touched reading this book and learning about Two-Spirit people. I love that this worldview includes people of all genders and celebrates those who are able to embody both.
This was a wonderful true story shared by two transgender authors and activists who have made quite a ripple in the world of transgender rights! Gavin Grimm, a trans boy from Virginia, is known for his involvement as a plaintiff in the Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board, where he fought for trans students to be able to use the bathroom of their choice. Kyle Lukoff, who co-authored and illustrated this book, is a very successful transgender children's book author who has written many celebrated picture books, including When Aidan Became A Brother. I was not familiar with Gavin's story, and it was inspiring to hear about his courageousness as he stood up to discrimination he was experiencing in school.
This historical picture book is about Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two transgender women of color who performed as drag queens and were an important part of the Stonewall Rebellion in 1960's-70's New York City. The book depicts the vulnerability of the LGBTQ scene at the time so well. The characters call to each other with a secret code, "Here comes Alice in the blue dress", whenever police officers are coming to raid their spaces and arrest people for simply being themselves.
Fed up, the community bands together on the first night of the Stonewall Rebellion, refusing to be arrested. After Stonewall, the two revolutionaries decided to start their own shelter house for other trans people who were facing discrimination. STAR, or Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, was formed in 1970 to serve as a home for LGBTQ youth without housing. I love how this story approaches the violence faced by these marginalized groups in a gentle way that can be understood by children. The illustrations are fabulous and colorful and reflect the brilliance and creativity of that movement that has become so influential and inspiring to so many of us.
This story is about Hannah, a little girl who is not excited about picture day. While her mom insists she wear a pink frilly dress, Hannah would rather not wear a dress at all because she doesn't feel true to herself when she has to act like a girl. Over the summer, her mom takes her swimsuit shopping. Finally, Hannah convinces her mom to buy her a black wetsuit instead of a typical style for a girl her age. Hannah feels so free in the new wetsuit, and her new friends at the pool know her as a boy.
When her mom calls her to go home, they are shocked to hear that she is a girl! Her new friends go on to share that they have a transgender friend, and explain to Hannah what that means. She gathers the courage to share her new understanding with her parents: "I am a boy!". Hannah's parents are so supportive, and they even take her to get a haircut that better reflects how she feels on the inside. It is magical to see the smile on her face at the end of the story! I loved reading this story and how it was inspired by the young author's personal experience.
This book is super cute! The main character goes to school and everyone is probing her for answers as to where her big brother has been. Nobody has seen Bill in weeks! While the kids speculate about whether Bill is somewhere in space or in another country, his sister simply answers them with a nonchalant "You need to chill", many a times while wearing sunglasses. I thought this was absolutely hilarious, and also such a good reminder!
Finally, towards the end of the story, it is revealed that the protagonist's brother has now transitioned to become a sister. All of her classmates are delighted and relieved to see that her once-brother is doing more than just okay! Her new sister, Lily, looks happier than ever with her long hair, skirt, and striped stockings. This book made me smile and has an important message! It's so vital that we normalize being anything other than straight and cisgender, and model this for our children so that they can learn that everyone is deserving of our respect!
